§ Lord Robertson of Oakridgeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will review the present situation whereby a person aged 65 or over can neither be granted the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for the first time nor can move to a higher level of the mobility component of the DLA. [HL2365]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The help available with the extra costs of disability for people disabled later in life has been discussed with groups representing disabled people. The discussions followed through our commitment in the Green Paper:New ambitions for our country: A Contract for Welfare to review the present gateways to the benefit.
We have made a number of changes to the financial support available for elderly people, including those who are disabled. These include the introduction of a guaranteed minimum income for pensioners from April 1999 by increasing income support for the poorest pensioners by three times the normal price uprating and an increase in the level of winter fuel payment which means that from next winter every eligible pensioner household will receive £100. In addition, my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has committed us to a minimum guarantee on tax. No pensioner whose income falls below a specified level will pay income tax.
Help with transport costs for disabled people is already available, for example through the disabled person's railcard. Local authorities also have discretionary power to make special transport provision for disabled people, including elderly people. In addition we have announced our intention to introduce a national 27WA standard minimum for concessionary fare schemes for people of pension age. It will require each local authority to make available at least half-fares on buses for all pensioners on purchase of a £5 annual bus pass.